What is the main purpose of administering antibiotics for a dog bite?

The main purpose of administering antibiotics for a dog bite is to treat potential infection. Dog bites can introduce bacteria from the animal's mouth into the wound, leading to localized infections or systemic infections if not properly managed. The use of antibiotics helps to eliminate these bacteria and lower the risk of developing infection-related complications, which can be serious.

In contrast to treating infection, options like reducing inflammation or alleviating pain may be part of overall wound management but do not address the underlying bacterial threat. Similarly, while prevention of tetanus is important in certain wound types, it is not the primary reason for antibiotic use in the context of dog bites, given that tetanus is typically more associated with puncture wounds from non-living sources or contaminated objects rather than animal bites.